Reishaun Hopkins is being remembered by the Malden Neighborhood basketball league, where he played.

The 18-year-old graduated from Malden High School last year.

"It was a tough day for some of our kids. Reishaun was quiet, but he was popular among his friends -- a good kid," Principal Dana Brown said.

Reishaun's family said he was on his way to work, taking the MBTA from Malden to Newton, where he'd get off the train and walk to the Honey Dew Donut shop at the rest area on Route 128.

He was struck by two cars early Thursday morning as he crossed the busy highway.His former principal isn't surprised he commuted so far.

"It's a bad economy. We have kids working 20, 30m 40 hours a week while still in high school, supporting their families. Reishaun paid for a lot of things on his own. He would take any job to make some money," Brown said.

Traffic was backed up for about 14 miles on the southbound side, and there were significant delays on the northbound side of the highway.

Bob Hogan, the owner-operator of the McDonald's and Honeydew at the rest stop, said the teen had been working there for a short period of time.

"We were deeply saddened to hear this news and our condolences go out to the family," Hogan said.